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THE MOTHER； from within。
Cruel Death！
To take away front me this tender blossom！
To take away my dove； my lamb； my darling！
THE MINSTRELS AND MOURNERS。
He hath led me and brought into darkness；
Like the dead of old in dark places！
He hath bent his bow； and hath set me
Apart as a mark for his arrow！
He hath covered himself with a cloud；
That our prayer should not pass through and reach him！
THE CROWD。
He stands beside her bed！ He takes her hand！
Listen； he speaks to her！
CHRISTUS； within。
Maiden； arise！
THE CROWD。
See； she obeys his voice！ She stirs！ She lives！
Her mother holds her folded in her arms！
O miracle of miracles！ O marvel！
IX
THE TOWER OF MAGDALA
MARY MAGDALENE。
Companionless； unsatisfied； forlorn；
I sit here in this lonely tower； and look
Upon the lake below me； and the hills
That swoon with heat； and see as in a vision
All my past life unroll itself before me。
The princes and the merchants come to me；
Merchants of Tyre and Princes of Damascus。
And pass； and disappear； and are no more；
But leave behind their merchandise and jewels；
Their perfumes； and their gold； and their disgust。
I loathe them； and the very memory of them
Is unto me as thought of food to one
Cloyed with the luscious figs of Dalmanutha！
What if hereafter； in the long hereafter
Of endless joy or pain； or joy in pain；
It were my punishment to be with them
Grown hideous and decrepit in their sins；
And hear them say： Thou that hast brought us here；
Be unto us as thou hast been of old！
I look upon this raiment that I wear；
These silks； and these embroideries； and they seem
Only as cerements wrapped about my limbs！
I look upon these rings thick set with pearls；
And emerald and amethyst and jasper；
And they are burning coals upon my flesh！
This serpent on my wrist becomes alive！
Away； thou viper！ and away； ye garlands；
Whose odors bring the swift remembrance back
Of the unhallowed revels in these chambers！
But yesterday；and yet it seems to me
Something remote； like a pathetic song
Sung long ago by minstrels in the street；
But yesterday； as from this tower I gazed；
Over the olive and the walnut trees
Upon the lake and the white ships； and wondered
Whither and whence they steered； and who was in them；
A fisher's boat drew near the landing…place
Under the oleanders； and the people
Came up from it； and passed beneath the tower；
Close under me。 In front of them； as leader；
Walked one of royal aspect； clothed in white；
Who lifted up his eyes； and looked at me；
And all at once the air seemed filled and living
With a mysterious power； that streamed from him；
And overflowed me with an atmosphere
Of light and love。 As one entranced I stood；
And when I woke again； lo！ he was gone；
So that I said： Perhaps it is a dream。
But from that very hour the seven demons
That had their habitation in this body
Which men call beautiful； departed from me！
This morning； when the first gleam of the dawn
Made Lebanon a glory in the air；
And all below was darkness； I beheld
An angel； or a spirit glorified；
With wind…tossed garments walking on the lake。
The face I could not see； but I distinguished
The attitude and gesture； and I knew
'T was he that healed me。 And the gusty wind
Brought to mine ears a voice； which seemed to say：
Be of good cheer！ 'T is I！ Be not afraid！
And from the darkness； scarcely heard； the answer：
If it be thou； bid me come unto thee
Upon the water！ And the voice said： Come！
And then I heard a cry of fear： Lord； save me！
As of a drowning man。 And then the voice：
Why didst thou doubt； O thou of little faith！
At this all vanished； and the wind was hushed；
And the great sun came up above the hills；
And the swift…flying vapors hid themselves
In caverns among the rocks！ Oh； I must find him
And follow him； and be with him forever！
Thou box of alabaster； in whose walls
The souls of flowers lie pent； the precious balm
And spikenard of Arabian farms； the spirits
Of aromatic herbs； ethereal natures
Nursed by the sun and dew； not all unworthy
To bathe his consecrated feet； whose step
Makes every threshold holy that he crosses；
Let us go forth upon our pilgrimage；
Thou and I only！ Let us search for him
Until we find him； and pour out our souls
Before his feet； till all that's left of us
Shall be the broken caskets that once held us！
X
THE HOUSE OF SIMON THE PHARISEE
A GUEST at table。
Are ye deceived？ Have any of the Rulers
Believed on him？ or do they know indeed
This man to be the very Christ？ Howbeit
We know whence this man is； but when the Christ
Shall come； none knoweth whence he is。
CHRISTUS。
Whereunto shall I liken； then； the men
Of this generation？ and what are they like？
They are like children sitting in the markets；
And calling unto one another； saying：
We have piped unto you； and ye have not danced
We have mourned unto you； and ye have not wept！
This say I unto you； for John the Baptist
Came neither eating bread nor drinking wine
Ye say he hath a devil。 The Son of Man
Eating and drinking cometh； and ye say：
Behold a gluttonous man； and a wine…bibber；
Behold a friend of publicans and sinners！
A GUEST aside to SIMON。
Who is that woman yonder； gliding in
So silently behind him？
SIMON。
It is Mary；
Who dwelleth in the Tower of Magdala。
THE GUEST。
See； how she kneels there weeping； and her tears
Fall on his feet； and her long； golden hair
Waves to and fro and wipes them dry again。
And now she kisses them； and from a box
Of alabaster is anointing them
With precious ointment； filling all the house
With its sweet odor！
SIMON； aside；
Oh； this man； forsooth；
Were he indeed a Prophet； would have known
Who and what manner of woman this may be
That toucheth him！ would know she is a sinner！
CHRISTUS。
Simon； somewhat have I to say to thee。
SIMON。
Master； say on。
CHRISTUS。
A certain creditor
Had once two debtors； and the one of them
Owed him five hundred pence； the other； fifty。
They having naught to pay withal； he frankly
Forgave them both。 Now tell me which of them
Will love him most？
SIMON。
He； I suppose to whom
He most forgave。
CHRISTUS。
Yea； thou hast rightly judged。
Seest thou this woman？ When thine house I entered；
Thou gavest me no water for my feet；
But she hath washed them with her tears； and wiped them
With her own hair。 Thou gavest me no kiss；
This woman hath not ceased； since I came in；
To kiss my feet。 My head with oil didst thou
Anoint not； but this woman hath anointed
My feet with ointment。 Hence I say to thee；
Her sins； which have been many； are forgiven；
For she loved much。
THE GUESTS。
Oh； wh